WASHINGTON (CNN) - An interest group supported by energy companies is attacking Sen. Lindsey Graham in his own backyard over his willingness to support cap-and-trade legislation.

The Republican has been collaborating with moderate senators to put together bipartisan energy legislation that would link a cap-and-trade program to expanded nuclear energy production and offshore oil and gas drilling. But many in Graham's party view a cap-and-trade program as a tax on energy companies that would be passed along to consumers.

Now the American Energy Alliance, a group funded in part by oil and gas companies that back offshore drilling, is launching a week of radio ads in South Carolina accusing Graham of supporting policies that will weaken the state's already suffering economy.

"So why would Senator Lindsey Graham support new energy taxes called cap-and-trade that will further harm our economy and kill millions of American jobs?" a narrator asks in the radio spot, which went up Thursday. "If that wasn't bad enough, Senator Graham's new energy taxes will have all of us paying more at the pump for a gallon of gas while seeing a 53 percent jump in electricity bills. Who can afford that in this economy?"

The quarter million dollar campaign against Graham will also include television and online ads in the coming weeks.

While he has made efforts to get fellow Republicans on board by advocating for provisions to increase nuclear power and offshore drilling, Graham has not signed onto the leading climate change bill in the Senate, sponsored by Sens. John Kerry and Barbara Boxer.

His office released a statement Thursday that focused on the Senator's support for nuclear energy and offshore drilling but made no mention of cap-and-trade.

"Energy independence will be a 21st Century job creator in South Carolina," Graham spokesman Kevin Bishop said. "Few states would benefit more from energy independence than South Carolina."

soundoff(56 Responses)

John

When the ocean rises after the polar ice caps melt because of global warming, an lot of these right-wing nut cases in SC will be under water. Unfortunately, so will many others, which is one reason it is a life and death matter to take global warming seriously and stop playing politics by denying reality.

October 22, 2009 05:04 pm at 5:04 pm |

Jim

American stands to gain jobs if we commit to a new energy economy. China has already said they want to lead the world in this and we can beat them if do it. Putting a price on carbon emissions will help us in the long run. There is an old saying that is apropos: If we keep doing what we did, we'll keep getting what we got... Doesn't anyone remember what a mess we were in a year ago and how we were all trying to get off oil so we could be independent? In this case, the elephants are being very forgetful!

October 22, 2009 05:05 pm at 5:05 pm |

Chris D.

People should read the article Sen. Graham, and John Kerry co-wrote, in the NY Times about two weeks ago. It was an all inclusive, bipartisan agreement on a climate change bill.....It basically included everything DEMS want, and everything Repubs want(off shore drilling, and nuclear power).
As a moderate DEM, it was very exciting to see them work together on a jobs bill that will be good for the economy.

October 22, 2009 05:07 pm at 5:07 pm |

phoenix86

Cap and Trade is ONLY to allow another tax for Obama. It doesn't do anything for energy independence and does nothing for "climate change".

Cap & Trade = Tax & Spend

October 22, 2009 05:07 pm at 5:07 pm |

Bob in Pa

No Cap and Trade, No Health Crae reform. No middle class American can afford this bad legislation.

October 22, 2009 05:07 pm at 5:07 pm |

Rob

Cap-and-trade is a disaster in the making, plain and simple. It's another shining example, along with the failed stimulus bill and this crap-fest known as healthcare reform, of Obumble's and the libs' efforts to ruin this once great country.